Anti semitism in Dubai

[ChasingDaylight]

Actually, it could depending on circumstances. Certainly an arrest is possible but perhaps not a jail term, unless you count the watch house as one. Just referring back to my past life (and for the record I was NOT the offender.

Agreed! Though from experience in my corner of the world (again, not as a participant) it's generally a direction to move on / go home. Space in the watch house tends to be at a premium after dark.

 

[jukebox333]

Space in the watch house tends to be at a premium after dark.

..because there's so many people having sex (in the watch house???????) I must live a sheltered life.

 

[dfcatch]

..because there's so many people having sex (in the watch house???????) I must live a sheltered life.

That would be a situation you would work to avoid
.....


(I'm just guessing - no first-hand experience here)

 

[oz_mark]

? It is true that Israeli citizens are not allowed entry to the UAE. Ridiculous as that may be,.

There are a whole bunch of countries that don't recognise Israel as a separate state. In our local area, these countries include Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia.

 

[fersea]

I don't have a dog in this fight, but being 'caught' having [consensual] sex in the back of a taxi in Austrlaia would not normally result in remand, let alone a prison term!

Yeah but imagine if you had a long encounter whilst the meter was running. It would cost you a fortune!!

 

[fersea]

Agreed, based on my experience. But we have more liberal views on this sort of caper and most taxis drivers are happy as long as the meter is running.

And they have a chance to adjust the rear view mirror first!!

 

[fersea]

..because there's so many people having sex (in the watch house???????) I must live a sheltered life.

No that's not what he means. He/she means the police have got bigger problems to deal with on a Friday / Saturday night than dealing with a couple that had a quickie in the back seat of the cab.

And I think the cabbie probably has bigger things to worry about to. A couple getting it on is unlikely to pull out a knife, run away without paying etc. I think the biggest thing the cabbie would be worried about is that they don't make a mess!!

 

[Pushka]

Actually I think a number of taxi drives would take offence at a couple having sex on the back seat if their religion/values found that to be offensive.

While other countries don't recognise Israel as a separate state I guess the issue here is that Qantas is making Dubai the hub through which we have to travel, and not Malaysia or Indonesia. I'm guessing that Israeli diplomats won't be flying Qantas.

 

[wingspan]

I'm not Jewish myself, but I find it incredibly disturbing that a supposedly modern, first world city like Dubai still bans Jews from entering their country. For this reason alone, I will never fly Qantas (or any other UAE carrier) through Dubai, as I would feel like I would be condoning such outdated, bigoted and offensive thinking.

Such practices may have had their place decades ago, but surely not in 2013?

Rant over...

I'm not an indigenous Australian myself, but I find it incredibly disturbing that a supposedly modern, first world country like Australia still treats indigenous Australians as second class citizens. For this reason alone, I will never fly any Australian carrier, as I would feel like I would be condoning such outdated, bigoted and offensive thinking.

Such practices may have had their place decades ago, but surely not in 2013?

 

[Conrad_S]

I don't have a dog in this fight, but being 'caught' having [consensual] sex in the back of a taxi in Austrlaia would not normally result in remand, let alone a prison term!

Serfty I didn't refer to prison or Aus. I would say in Australia that a hotel room would be a fair bit cheaper (and cleaner) than the back of a taxi. I also don't wish to stray off topic (and I don't have any desire to engage in a war) but for me one of the main attractions of travel is experiencing the differences of other countries. Whatever I think, travelling many places on the globe with the assumption that what happens here is going to apply overseas is naive or dangerous.

Laws and customs vary. It is up to the traveler to make decisions based on value or risk about where they travel. I do have countries I won't visit based on their political or cultural practices but Dubai is not one of them.

 

[maomaocat]

BTW, the majority of Jews in the world are not Israeli citizens and not travelling on Israeli passports.

They seem to be quite adept at travelling on Australian passports!

Most of the world is disagreeable. What better way to export our own values than travel to the other places and show off how happy and well we are?

 

[Hvr]

<snip>

Most of the world is disagreeable. What better way to export our own values than travel to the other places and show off how happy and well we are?

Just don't show them the thread on the next election.

 

[mannej]

Most of the world is disagreeable. What better way to export our own values than travel to the other places and show off how happy and well we are?

Just like the bogan travelers who give us such a great name in places like Bali and coughet?

 

[SeatBackForward]

Amazing how some people can replace Israel and Jews for their convenice. (and yes it goes both ways!)

For the record there are muslims who are Israeli citzens, as there are christian Israeli citizens. They would not be allowed entry into Duabi either. The sanctions are against the state, not against the religion. For some content that isn't shock jock standard:


From the Emirates site:

Admission and Transit Restrictions:
Admission refused to nationals of Israel.
Link

Another thing to be aware of, from Smarttraveller (Aus Govt):

The UAE does not recognise dual nationality. This may limit the ability of the Australian Government to provide consular assistance to Australian/United Arab Emirates dual nationals who are arrested or detained.
United Arab Emirates | Travel advice | Smartraveller: The Australian Government's travel advisory and consular assistance service

And finally from the media:

Australian travellers of Jewish background who are Israeli passport holders can only transit through Dubai and are not allowed to leave the airport because the UAE is a participant in the Arab League boycott of Israel.
Dubai stopovers | Qantas | Rules for tourists to follow

This is also another site that contains some information: Israeli stamp in passport Dubai

 

[chrisb]

Australian travellers of Jewish background who are Israeli passport holders can only transit through Dubai and are not allowed to leave the airport because the UAE is a participant in the Arab League boycott of Israel.

If I was in that position I think i'd avoid transiting through a country where if the plane goes tech things will get very messy for you.

Also, you'd probably want to avoid country that is actively boycotting the one that you call your home.

 

[JohnK]

Discrimination is sanctioned by law Australia. Where to start? Exclusions from anti-discrimination legislation allow religious institutions, including schools receiving Federal funding, to discriminate based on sexual orientation, gender or belief. Immigration rules that allow you to bring in a married partner... with the exclusion that while Australia will recognise a straight marriage, it will not recognise a same-sex marriage.

In Australia, and the majority of the western world, we allow freedom of religion and anyone can build a religious institution within reason.

Can I build a Christian Church in Saudi Arabia, and more specifically Mecca, and openly practice Christianity without fear of repercussions?

I am not going to wait for your answer but that is bigotry in it's greatest form and we condone and justify it as their right to practice bigotry as they see fit.

I am really sorry but this world is screwed up so badly. Western civilisation will not be around in 50 years time.

 

[777]

If I was in that position I think i'd avoid transiting through a country where if the plane goes tech things will get very messy for you.

Not always... i love this story from a few years ago: At first terrified, Israeli stuck in Iran made pals

 

[simongr]

I do hope that you equally boycott transiting through SIN given that even in the modern age in which we live they have made homosexuality illegal. If you are going to make a stand make an even stand..

 

[QF1]

I don't have a dog in this fight, but being 'caught' having [consensual] sex in the back of a taxi in Austrlaia would not normally result in remand, let alone a prison term!

why then go all the way to UAE to have sex in a cab when you can have it here...besides you could get a room in a fantastic hotel and even maybe earn some miles/points

 

[markis10]

A countries policies and affairs are really its own business, as foreigners we really have no business getting involved unless we are prepared to accept the consequences, as a Senator found out recently.

I think the biggest problem these days is people not looking at the other side of the story, putting themselves in the shoes of others, travel allows us to do that, as long as we do that with respect and understanding then I see no issue, in fact I see travel as a way of healing the world of its woes, as often it will encourage compassion and empathy.